- Expect two to four rounds: a screening call, an interview with the hiring manager, often a task, and a final round.
- German interviewers value preparation, clear structure and honesty about what you do not know.
- Always answer salary questions with a gross annual figure based on research.
- Probation in Germany is usually up to six months, with two weeks notice during that time.
Getting the interview call is the hardest part. Then many people lose the chance because they prepare for an interview the way it works at home. Interviews in Germany are usually calm, structured and detailed. Here is what to expect.
The usual rounds
- Screening call (20 to 30 minutes). A recruiter checks your background, motivation, German level, visa situation, notice period and salary expectations.
- Hiring manager interview (45 to 60 minutes). Your experience in depth, often with "tell me about a time when" questions.
- Task or case study. Common in tech, data, marketing and consulting. Sometimes take home, sometimes live.
- Final round. With the team or a senior manager, sometimes in person.
The whole process often takes three to eight weeks. Silence for a week between rounds is normal.
Questions you should prepare
- Tell me about yourself. (Two minutes, focused on this role.)
- Why Germany, and why our company?
- What do you know about our products or customers?
- Tell me about a project that failed. What did you learn?
- How do you handle disagreement with a colleague or manager?
- What is your German level, and how are you improving it?
- When can you start, and do you need a visa?
- What are your salary expectations?
Answer with structure: the situation, what you did, and the result. German interviewers often ask follow up questions to check details, so only claim what you really did.
How to answer salary expectations
In Germany, salaries are discussed as a gross annual amount (Bruttojahresgehalt), not monthly and not after tax.
- Research first. The Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency shows typical gross pay by occupation.
- Give a range or a figure, for example "Based on my research for this role in Munich, I am looking at 58,000 to 62,000 euros gross per year."
- If you need an EU Blue Card, make sure the offer meets the salary threshold. In 2026 it is €50,700 a year, or €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and recent graduates (Make it in Germany). Read my Blue Card guide.
Probation and notice
Most German contracts start with a probation period (Probezeit). By law it can last up to six months, and during it either side can end the contract with two weeks notice (BGB section 622). It is normal and not a sign of distrust.
Questions to ask them
- What would success look like in the first six months?
- How is the team organised, and which language is used day to day?
- How does the company support relocation and the visa process?
- What are the next steps, and when can I expect to hear back?
Video interviews from India
- Check the time zone twice. Germany is 3.5 hours behind India in summer time and 4.5 hours in winter.
- Test your camera, microphone and internet the day before. Use a quiet, plain background.
- Join two minutes early, and send a short thank you email the same day.
When an interview call comes in my 3-month program, we do a mock interview for that exact role first.
INTERVIEW to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram.
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.